A corner of London’s theatreland, where Nell Gwynne once trod the boards and where a murdered actor is rumoured to haunt the local alleyways, is about to get a makeover.

Sir John Beckwith is backing a redevelopment of 409-410 The Strand, barely a stone’s throw from The Savoy, which aims to create a “stylish and quirky” residential-led scheme that resurrects both the history and former glory of the Grade II-listed building.

The serial City entrepreneur’s Pacific Investments group has teamed up with Enstar Capital, the real estate group, and Penna Property Partners to redevelop the building, which is next door